Massage

Sports Massage works with athletes to either prepare them for events or aid them to recover from events, and to aid them to recover from specific injuries resulting from their sporting activities.

This modality also assists in the prevention of sporting injuries and can help improve performance.

Sports massage is not just for professional athletes but for anyone who engages in regular sporting activities.

Sports massage can relieve muscle tension and pain, reduce swelling, promote flexibility and joint mobility, improve circulation and lymph flow, decrease blood pressure, enhance sports performance and mental concentration, prevent injuries, and reduce recovery time from injuries.

Remedial Massage targets specific areas of the body which are causing problems for the client.

This often involves a postural assessment where the therapist observes postural imbalances within the body and establishes what is contributing to the underlying issue. This information aids them in determining how to treat the client.

Techniques used can include, stretching, trigger point therapy, myofacial release, ischemic compression and cross fibre mobilisation, to name a few and tend to work deeper into the tissue than a relaxation massage.

Remedial Massage breaks down scar tissue and adhesions, increases blood flow to the damaged area, improves lymphatic flow, relieves muscle tension and stiffness,  increases mobility and range of motion, and calms the peripheral nervous system to ease pain and discomfort.

Some of the conditions Remedial Massage can assist with are: Lower back pain, tight neck or shoulders, headaches or migraines, joint problems, muscle strain, chronic pain conditions, RSI, whiplash, frozen shoulder, and tendonitis.

Relaxation Massage or Swedish Massage uses long flowing strokes, usually covering the whole body, or specific areas determined during the client interview, to relax the muscles and soft tissues of the body, allow the mind to switch off, and give the client the time and space to de-stress and unwind from their everyday life.

It alleviates stress and tension in the muscle tissues, moves the lymph, the body’s waste system, around the body, and flushes toxins and waste products from the cells.

It improves circulation, strengthens the immune system, decreases stress and anxiety, aids in quality of sleep, allows for a greater connection to between the mind and the body and generally creates a feeling of wellbeing and relaxation.

Our Lymphatic System is the bodies waste disposal system and its first line of defence against infection.

This is one of the only systems in the body that does not have a pump and it relies on the movement of our muscles to “pump” the lymphatic fluid around our body.

A Lymphatic Drainage Massage is a very light and gentle treatment that follows a set sequence following the lymph channels around the body and into the cisterna chyli, or the” drain” of the lymphatic system. 

It can assist the body in treatment of lymphedema, fluid retention, chronic fatigue or lethargy,  stress, neurological disorders, recovery from colds and other illnesses (please note it is not recommended to have a Lymphatic Drainage Massage during the acute phase of infection), and detoxing and cleansing the body.

It is important to note that because a Lymphatic Drainage Massage works by flushing toxins and waste products though the body it is very important to drink lots of water both before and after your treatment to support your body in the effective and efficient elimination of these waste products.

Pregnancy Massage or pre-natal massage can be a wonderful treatment to help your body through the changes that occur during pregnancy.

Utilising a combination of remedial and relaxation techniques a treatment will be created specifically for you, to alleviate those areas of tension, tightness and discomfort that are inevitable during pregnancy.

Pregnancy massage is only performed after the first trimester of pregnancy but can be carried out any time up to birth.

A pregnancy massage is carried out with the client in the sidelying position, with pillows to support her so that she is comfortable.

Pregnancy massage can help with reducing pain and discomfort involved in carrying a child; lower back pain, sciatic pain, swelling, muscle cramps, alleviating insomnia, lowering blood pressure, soothing the nervous system, decreasing stress and promoting relaxation, and provides an emotionally supportive environment for the mother to connect with her child and have some time out just for herself.

Woman’s health physiotherapy, pre and peri natal Pilates, pregnancy KaHuna and Natropathy are also available at Entire Physio to assist and support you during your pregnancy.

Oncology massage is a holistic massage tailored entirely to the individual. It is a gentle and graceful massage, conducted by skilled therapists, who adapt their massage at every moment to the cues the client’s body is giving them.

Oncology Massage Therapists have specific training in cancer presentations, the treatments used, and how these impact on a patient’s body.

Therapists are confident in adapting their techniques around cancer related complications such as: lymphoedema, lowered blood counts, fatigue, nausea, anxiety, wound sites, and surgical scars.

Our therapists are more than happy to work with patients using surgical devices such as catheters, ports and stoma bags as well.

International research shows that patients receiving Oncology Massage showed a 47% improvement in pain levels, 42% improvement in fatigue levels, 59% improvement in anxiety levels, 51% improvement in nausea scores and 48% improvement in depressive symptoms (Ref : Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre, NY, 2004).

Please allow time to complete a specific health questionnaire prior to your arrival for your Oncology massage. You can read more about an Oncology Massage here.

As its name suggests, Deep Tissue Massage is designed to reach the deeper layers of muscle fibres and fascia within the body.

It brings an increase of blood to the area, and aids in the exchange of toxins and waste products with oxygen and nutrients from the muscle fibres and cells of the area being worked.

It can be very effective in treating areas of long term tension and muscle congestion, and areas of chronic pain. Because it works very deeply, emotional issues can also be addressed, when these have been stored in the body.

Due to the pressure being used during a Deep Tissue Massage, clients can expect to feel some soreness both during and after the treatment, however it should always be within the comfort zone of the individual and any post treatment soreness should resolve within a few days.

Please speak to your practitioner if you have any concerns or queries regarding this.

Ka Huna or Lomi Lomi is one of the most profound forms of massage.

It is a unique healing massage derived from the ancient Polynesians and more specifically the master healers, (the Ka Huna) of Hawaii.

The seven principles for the Ka Huna:

Ike – Be Aware!  The world is what you think it is

Kala – Be Free!  There are no limits

Makia – Be Focused!  Energy flows where attention goes

Manawa – Be Here!  Now is the moment of power

Aloha – Be Happy!  To love is to be happy with

Mana – Be Confident!  All power comes from within

Pono – Be Positive!  Effectiveness is the measure of truth

One of the alternate names for Ka Huna, is “Loving Hands” massage.

The reason for this is that it works gently yet deeply into the muscles with continuous, flowing strokes, totally nurturing the body and enabling the recipient to relax, let go and simply be.

The massage is given in flowing, rhythmic motion using the forearms and hands. Some people have described this as feeling like gentle waves moving over the body and others, floating on air.

Another feature is that different parts of the body may be massaged at the same time, for example one arm or hand may be working on a shoulder and the other hand may be working on the opposite hip.

By not working on areas in isolation a deep sense of balance and harmony is achieved.

Whilst technique is important, the priority is Aloha (loving) the body, using intuition so the massage is “right” for the client.

When harmony is lacking in the person, the effect is pain; physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually resulting in illness. Illness is a state of tension, which can lead to restriction in the energy flow. 

Ka Huna massage helps release this and therefore facilitates the person’s ability to heal.

On the physical level, through Ka Huna massage stress and tensions are relieved, blood and lymphatic flow is assisted and the elimination of wastes and toxins stimulated. You can read more about Ka Huna massages here.

Hot Stone Massage is an ancient form of massage used by the Indians, Chinese and Native American Indians.

It is a wonderfully relaxing massage utilising relaxation and remedial massage techniques with hot stones to penetrate deeply and gently into the soft tissues of the body.

The stones, usually basalt, retain the heat and release it into tight muscles, allowing them to relax and release tension quickly and easily, the heat also opens the pores of the skin allowing the therapeutic oils to be absorbed into the body.

The heated stones are used in two ways, to work the muscles directly and they are also placed on certain acupressure or trigger points on the body.

Hot stone massage relieves muscle tension and pain, improves circulation and lymph flow, improves immune function, aids relaxation and a mental switching off, allows for a greater connection with self and opens the pores and aids in healthy skin.

Paola works with expectant and new parents or carers with infants up to 8 months old to teach you how to massage your baby. You will be taught a full body massage + massage for common digestive complaints.

Baby massage has many benefits including: reduced crying time, improved sleep and reduced stress levels for both parent and child.

Cupping Therapy is an ancient technique used in Traditional Chinese Medicine which involves applying cups to the Meridian points, trigger points or parts of the body which have been affected by injury or illness.

The cups produce a vacuum on the skin and suck the skin and superficial tissue into the cup, sometimes while the cups are in place they will be manipulated onto other areas of the body, causing the skin and muscle to be pulled, a process called gliding cupping.

The cups are left on un to 30 minutes depending on the location, the purpose and the individual response, and once removed they leave a circular discolouration on the skin which will usually resolve between a week and 10 days.

Cupping Therapy warms the area, promotes the flow of energy and blood flow to the site and removes old or stagnant energy and waste products from the area.

It can help to reduce pain and increase mobility.

Cupping can help to activate the lymphatic system and repair deep tissue damage by increasing the amount of blood flow to the site and encouraging the body’s innate healing process.

Reiki is an ancient Japanese technique of energy healing or ‘laying of hands’ that encourages stress reduction, relaxation and promotes healing.

The word Reiki comes from two Japanese words Rei which means ‘God’s wisdom’ or ‘Higher power’ and Ki which means ‘life force energy’. So together Reiki means ‘spiritually guided life force energy’.

The practitioner acts as a conduit allowing the energy to flow through their energy field and out through their hands to the client. Reiki works through the guidance of the clients own higher self and with all aspects of the self, allowing the energy to flow where needed.

This can also involve the practitioner working around the body without directly touching it, working through the aura and energy centres or chakras of the body.

Reiki treats the whole person including the body, emotions, mind and spirit, creating many beneficial effects that include relaxation, feelings of peace, security and wellbeing. Many have even reported miraculous results!

Reiki is a simple, natural and safe method of spiritual healing and self improvement that everyone can benefit from and learn to do. It always creates a beneficial effect and works in conjunction with all other medical or therapeutic techniques to relieve side effects and promote recovery.

A Reiki treatment can:

• help you feel grounded and centered
• aid with a greater connection with self
• remove blockages from the body and energy system
• align and unblock the chakras
• speed and facilitate physical healing
• allow mental & emotional surrender and release
• promote the bodies own innate self healing system.

Craniosacral therapy is a gentle, light touch technique used to release pain, tension and restrictions in the body, working through your clothing on any part of the body.

Craniosacral therapy works with the cerebrospinal fluid in and around the craniosacral system ie CNS

Craniosacral therapy has been described as psychotherapy for the body. It is ideal for releasing past trauma and freeing up the mental, emotional and physical restrictions caused by such trauma.

Although everyone experiences craniosacral therapy differently it is usually a very relaxing experience. It is very gentle and extremely effective. People often report a strong sense of wellbeing after a session.

The purpose of craniosacral therapy, quite simply, is to enhance the functioning of this system.

Craniosacral therapy is “holistic” because it tries to prevent illness and dysfunction by viewing the entire body as a whole. It attempts to cater to the physical, mental, and emotional needs of the patient.

Craniosacral Therapy and Babies

New born babies can be subject to enormous forces when they are born, twisting and turning as they squeeze their way to the outside world.

That can mean a lot of stress and pressure, particularly on baby’s head.

Craniosacral therapy looks to recognise any effects caused by this and release that pressure, particularly in the base of the skull where nerves to the tongue and guts may become irritated and effect suckling and cause nausea.

There may also be a build-up of pressure around the temporal bones which house the hearing apparatus and the eustachian tubes which may be compressed, especially by forceps, during delivery and lead to blocked ears and infection.

How Craniosacral Therapy Can Help

More specifically, and most commonly, Craniosacral therapy can be used in a range of disorders including: